- What to know
- Arknights Endfield Operator Trust mechanics
- What Operator Trust actually does for your squad
- How to increase Operator Trust efficiently
- Comparing Trust growth methods
- Best approach for long-term Trust management
- Trust milestones and rewards
- Why Trust matters in high-difficulty content
- Maximizing Operator potential through consistent Trust growth
What to know
- Operator Trust directly increases stats through Talent Matrix nodes at key milestones.
- The fastest method is giving preferred gifts aboard the OMV Dijiang.
- Control Nexus assignments provide passive Trust gain over time.
- Trust progression is separate from level and promotion but essential for full optimization.
Building a strong squad in Arknights Endfield goes far beyond leveling and promotions. If you want your operators to perform at their full potential, you need to actively raise their Trust. This system functions as both a relationship mechanic and a progression layer, unlocking stat bonuses and deeper Talent nodes inside each character’s Ability Matrix.
Trust isn’t optional if you’re optimizing for late-game combat. You’ll notice that certain attribute boosts remain locked until you reach specific Trust thresholds. That means if you ignore this system, you’re effectively running a partially upgraded operator.
Arknights Endfield Operator Trust mechanics
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| System Type | Relationship & stat progression system |
| Affects | ATK, HP, and other core attributes via Talent Matrix |
| Milestones | 20%, 50%, 100% Trust |
| Fastest Method | Giving preferred gifts aboard OMV Dijiang |
| Passive Method | Assigning operators to Control Nexus facilities |
| Daily Limit | Daily gift cap determined by Trust loading bar |
| Unlocks | Stat nodes, profile entries, dialogue, lore |
Trust progression integrates directly into long-term character development. It enhances both performance and immersion, making it one of the most important background systems you should manage consistently.
What Operator Trust actually does for your squad
Operator Trust acts as a multiplier on your investment. While leveling increases base stats and promotions unlock new skills, Trust enhances those gains by unlocking additional attribute nodes inside the Talent (Ability) Matrix.
At 20%, 50%, and 100% Trust, new attribute bonuses become available. These nodes usually increase primary combat stats such as Attack, HP, or defensive attributes, depending on the operator’s role and design. However, unlocking them often requires both reaching the Trust threshold and spending materials.
Beyond combat benefits, Trust also unlocks:
- Additional character profile entries
- New voice lines and dialogue
- Expanded lore details
So while the stat increases are your main incentive, you also gain deeper narrative context as Trust rises.
Importantly, Trust is completely separate from leveling and promotion ranks. An operator can be fully leveled and promoted yet still be missing a significant portion of their stat potential if their Trust is low.
How to increase Operator Trust efficiently
There are two primary systems that raise Trust, and they function very differently in terms of speed and efficiency.
Giving gifts aboard the OMV Dijiang for fast Trust gains
The fastest and most reliable way to raise Trust is by gifting operators directly while aboard the OMV Dijiang.
This option becomes available after progressing through early story quests such as “Work Preparation” and “Restart Area Stock Redistribution.” Completing these unlocks access to the Stock Redistribution terminal, where you can purchase cultural goods used as gifts.
To give a gift:
Step 1
Board the OMV Dijiang and locate your operator physically on the ship, or open the Operator Contact menu to bring them into view.
Step 2
Select the Offer Gift option from the interaction panel.
Step 3
Choose a gift from your inventory and confirm the action.
Each operator has preferences. Gifts marked with a “hot tag” provide significantly more Trust than neutral items. Prioritizing these preferred gifts is critical if you want maximum efficiency per daily cap.
There is a daily Trust loading limit, meaning you can only give a certain number of gifts per operator per day. Once the bar is filled, further gifting will not increase Trust until the next reset. This system encourages consistent daily interaction rather than bulk dumping items.
Assigning operators to the Control Nexus for passive growth
The second method is slower but completely passive.
After completing the “Maintenance Progress” quest, you gain access to Daang’s Control Nexus panel. From here, you can assign operators to the first room of the control facility.
Once assigned, operators gradually accumulate small amounts of Trust over time. You don’t need to interact further—simply visiting Daang periodically will apply the passive gains.
This method works best as background support. It will not replace gifting for serious optimization, but it ensures steady progression for operators you are not actively building.
Comparing Trust growth methods
| Method | Speed | Player Effort | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preferred Gift Giving | Very Fast | Active, daily interaction | Main squad priority units |
| Generic Gift Giving | Moderate | Active | Secondary units |
| Control Nexus Assignment | Slow | Passive | Background progression |
If your goal is to maximize combat efficiency quickly, gifting preferred items daily is clearly the superior approach. Passive assignment should be used alongside gifting, not instead of it.
Best approach for long-term Trust management
If you want to optimize your roster, consistency matters more than intensity. Because of the daily cap, you cannot rush an operator from 0% to 100% Trust in a single session.
A strong strategy involves:
- Buying preferred gifts weekly from Stock Redistribution
- Logging in daily to distribute gifts efficiently
- Keeping high-priority operators easily accessible aboard Dijiang
- Assigning secondary operators to the Control Nexus for background growth
Over time, this steady approach ensures your main team reaches the 100% Trust milestone, unlocking their full stat potential.
Trust milestones and rewards
| Trust Level | Unlock Type | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | First Talent attribute node | Noticeable stat increase |
| 50% | Mid-tier attribute node | Stronger combat scaling |
| 100% | Final attribute node | Maximum stat optimization |
Reaching 100% Trust does not automatically activate bonuses—you must still unlock the nodes using required materials. However, without the Trust threshold, those nodes remain inaccessible.
Why Trust matters in high-difficulty content
In challenging combat scenarios, even small stat increases can significantly impact survivability and damage output. A fully promoted operator at low Trust will underperform compared to the same operator at 100% Trust with unlocked Talent nodes.
As enemy scaling increases, these marginal stat differences become more noticeable. That’s why Trust progression is considered part of endgame optimization rather than optional side content.
Maximizing Operator potential through consistent Trust growth
Operator Trust in Arknights: Endfield is more than a relationship bar—it’s a stat amplifier, progression gate, and lore system combined. By focusing on daily preferred gifting aboard OMV Dijiang and maintaining passive Control Nexus assignments, you ensure your operators unlock their full Talent Matrix potential.
If you treat Trust as part of your daily routine rather than an afterthought, your squad will steadily become stronger, more refined, and fully optimized for late-game challenges.
